Family of popular Bristol teenager frustrated at lack of help before he killed himself

Boris Johnston's parents say that when they tried to get help for their 19-year-old son, they were told he had to ask for it himself because he was an adult. Now they want to help other young men experiencing similar difficulties.

The parents of a young man who took his own life are frustrated that they were unable to get professional support for him.

Boris Johnston, from St Werburgh's, took his own life on February 23 after struggling with drug use and mental health issues.

The 19-year-old was described as "a very popular and well-loved boy and musician" by his parents, who became increasingly concerned about his welfare in the months leading up to his suicide. But they say that, because he was an adult, they were unable to act on his behalf to get organisations which could have helped him to intervene.

Boris was found hanged on the Purdown estate by police and paramedics, who pronounced him dead at the scene at 5.10pm.

Anthony Johnston, Boris's father, had called the emergency services hours before, as he was worried about his son's whereabouts.

The 19-year-old had struggled since taking his A levels and had recently turned down an apprenticeship.

During today's inquest, Coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said Boris's family believed he had taken cannabis since his early teens, had started taking MDMA (ecstasy) and had more recently been introduced to cocaine. The escalating drug use is believed to have contributed to his worsening mental health.

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Before his death he had visited friends in Wales in an attempt to get away from Bristol and some of his contacts. But when he returned to Bristol his mental health rapidly deteriorated.

He had been a patient at the Bishopston Medical Practice, and was a patient of GP, Dr Nadine Burrows. In February, Boris had complained of weight loss and believed he had a parasite but test results came back negative.

Dr Burrows said in a statement that she had spoken to Boris's dad about his mental health that month. She had agreed that Mr Johnston could accompany Boris to an appointment, which had been booked to take place on February 24 - the day after Boris died.

In a statement read to the court, his father said Boris had become more distant and hard to reach before his death.

"He developed unusual ideas about his body, its shape and how it looked, which was unusual for him. Sometimes he would be out all night without any sleep," said Mr Johnston. "He was fixated with his relationships with friends and found it hard living in his own room saying it had bad vibes. His behaviour became more erratic and unusual."

Dr Harrowing concluded that Boris's death was suicide.

Speaking after the inquest, the family said they had tried to get help for their son, but claim they were not provided with any and felt they had no-one to turn to.

“I phoned up the Bristol Drugs Project, (mental health charity) Mind and his GP in tears, as a concerned parent, and was just told he had to refer himself," said Mr Johnston.

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“I am disappointed that none of the professionals or bodies I tried to reach out to picked up on the signs. As a parent, you don’t consider that your son would take his own life."

Mr Johnston said he was told that because Boris was 19, Boris had to "admit himself" for treatment or support, even though there was "no way" the teenager would have asked for help.

Father Anthony said his son cared deeply about people and was a talented musician.

"The only way I could do anything was if I said he was at risk to himself or others," said Mr Johnston. "But I feel like I was being asked to make a professional decision, and I am not a professional."

His parents believe Boris lacked the ability to book an appointment with the GP or other agencies to talk about his mental health, despite being aware of groups such as the Bristol Drugs Project and the Crisis Team. They say he was self-medicating in the form of drug use.

"The biggest killer of men under 40 years old in this country is suicide, not heart attacks or cancer," said Mr Johnston. "If he was having those kind of health problems, I would have known what signs to look out for and what to do. But when you notice a loved one is exhibiting strange behaviour, what do you do?

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"I was ignorant to what the signs were, and they were all there. Now having read about it, he ticked all the boxes as someone at risk of suicide.

“We really need to do better in educating people about what to look for."

No drugs or alcohol were found in Boris’s system at the time of death and his parents think he may have been trying to get off them but the withdrawal had made him more mentally unstable for a time.

“Children just assume that drugs are not dangerous but they affect people in different ways. It distorted his perception of reality and his perception of his body," said Mr Johnston.

“Drugs are so easily available in Bristol, I think that we’ve got a problem that we’re not owning up to and addressing. Parents should get together and do something, but there is a huge taboo about it. People don’t want to admit their child is taking drugs."

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Mr Johnston and his wife Paloma Suarez have now set up a website to work with young men like their son. They are interested in providing a space where men can talk and feel safe to open up about their feelings.

"It is the only way we can help our son now because he's no longer here,” said Mrs Suarez.

“Many of these young people’s suicides can be prevented. It doesn’t have to be an illness forever. It is something someone can overcome."

Most people who are thinking of taking their own life have shown warning signs beforehand.

These can include becoming depressed, showing sudden changes in behaviour, talking about wanting to die and feelings of hopelessness. These feelings do improve and can be treated.

If you are concerned about someone, or need help yourself, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123.